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0.9% Sodium Chloride intravenous infusion solution – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Last updated: · Text from the MHRA, as of · About this document

Medicine strength:
0.9%
Contains active substance:
ATC code:
Similar medicines:

Sources: Original (products.mhra.gov.uk) · About this document

Patient leaflet - 0.9% Sodium Chloride intravenous infusion solution

1. WHAT 0.9% SODIUM CHLORIDE

INTRAVENOUS INFUSION SOLUTION IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

0.9% Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion Solution is a

clear colourless to faintly straw-coloured solution of

sodium chloride in water. The solution is stored in a

sealed flexible plastic bag.

Sodium chloride (salt) helps to maintain the correct

balance of fluid in and around the body’s cells and

tissues. Sodium chloride infusions are given to add water

to tissues which are dehydrated and to help to restore the

normal salt balance.

Sodium chloride infusions may be given alone but may be

given with other medicines added.

You will be given sodium chloride infusions in hospital by

a doctor or nurse.

2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ARE GIVEN 0.9% SODIUM CHLORIDE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION SOLUTION

You MUST NOT be given sodium chloride infusions if you:

  • have an allergy to sodium chloride or any of the other

ingredients.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or nurse if you:

  • have heart failure, cardio-pulmonary disease, kidney problems, high blood pressure, liver disease, or oedema (swelling)
  • have high serum levels of sodium (“hypernatraemia”)
  • have pre-eclampsia of pregnancy

  • are receiving drugs which may increase sodium

    retention

  • are very young or elderly.

Other medicines and 0.9% Sodium Chloride

Intravenous Infusion Solution

Tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken

any other medicines.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before being given this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Sodium chloride infusion has no effect on your ability to drive or use machines.

3. HOW 0.9% SODIUM CHLORIDE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION SOLUTION IS GIVEN

Sodium chloride infusion will be given to you in hospital.

You will receive the solution by infusion into a vein (usually in the arm), administered by a doctor or nurse. The amount and rate at which the infusion is given depends on your requirements. Your doctor will decide on the correct volume for you to receive.

Your doctor will check your response to the treatment by the relief of your symptoms, and will probably take samples of blood and urine for laboratory testing.

If you are given more sodium chloride infusion than you should

It is unlikely you will be given too much solution as your doctor or nurse will be checking your response to the treatment. Infusion of too much sodium chloride solution can lead to the build up of sodium in the blood, which can lead to dehydration of some organs of the body and to loss of potassium. If you are concerned about the volume of solution given, or are worried about any effects you notice, talk to your doctor or nurse.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or nurse.

4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

GB PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER 0.9% SODIUM CHLORIDE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION SOLUTION

Sodium chloride

Read all of this leaflet carefully before being given this medicine because it contains important information for you.

  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or nurse

  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4

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The infusion should be stopped immediately if you experience an adverse reaction.

If you are given the solution for a long time, you may notice the following:

  • irritation, swelling, redness and tenderness at the site of injection.

The balance of some chemicals in your blood may become upset. You may notice the following:

  • swelling, especially of the legs.
  • feel tired, weak, dizzy, have a headache or problems with vision
  • or a fast or irregular heart beat
  • feel sick (nausea) and have an upset stomach, loss of appetite
  • drowziness, lack of energy
  • cramp or discomfort of the muscles, confusion or disorientation
  • thirst, dry mouth, dark urine

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system:

Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. HOW TO STORE 0.9% SODIUM CHLORIDE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION SOLUTION

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not store above 25°C. Do not freeze. Store in the original outer container. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

The solution should only be used if it is clear and the container is not damaged. It should be used immediately on removal from the overwrap. For single use only. Any unused solution in the bag must be discarded.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. The doctor or nurse will dispose of this medicine. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION

What 0.9% Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion Solution contains

The active substance is sodium chloride. Each litre of solution contains 9 g sodium chloride.

Each litre contains 154 mmol sodium and 154 mmol chloride.

The other ingredient is water for injections.

What 0.9% Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion

Solution looks like and contents of the pack

Sodium chloride infusion is a clear, colourless to faintly straw-coloured solution. The solution for infusion is packaged in a plastic bag or flexible container with an integral infusion set for direct connection to a catheter. It is available in sizes of 50 ml, 100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml and, depending on the container type, 1000 ml.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed

Marketing authorisation holder

LABORATOIRE AGUETTANT

1, rue Alexander Fleming

69007 Lyon

France

Manufacturer

AGUETTANT MOUVAUX

Rue Michel Raillard

59420 Mouvaux

France

This leaflet was last revised in 05/2024.

PL 14434/0055

For information on CD, please contact the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Central phone number: (+44) 0800 198 5000.

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About this document

Source: MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (products.mhra.gov.uk) · Marketing authorisation: PL 14434/0055

Last revision stated in the text: May 2024 · MHRA data as of 13 October 2026

Found a mistake? Tell us on the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Facts about 0.9% Sodium Chloride intravenous infusion solution

Active substance Sodium chloride
Strength 0.9%
Pharmaceutical form Colourless to faintly straw-coloured solution without visible particles in bags, individually overwrapped.
pH 5. Osmolality approx 300mOsm/kgH2O
Excipients Water for Injections
Shelf life Before opening the overpack:
For PVC bags (COSINUSPVC):
50, 100, 250 ml: 18 months
500 and 1 000 ml: 2 years
For polyolefin bags (COSINUS, Easyflex N, Easyflex+):2 years
After opening the overpack:
Use immediately on removal from overwrap.
Storage Do not store above 25°C. Do not freeze. Store in the original outer container.
Drug group (ATC)
  1. B Blood and blood forming organ drugs
    1. B05 Blood substitutes and perfusion solutions
      1. B05B IV solutions used in parenteral administration of fluids, electrolytes and nutrients
        1. B05BB Solutions affecting the electrolyte balance
          1. B05BB01 electrolytes
Marketing authorisation PL 14434/0055 (first authorised 27 October 2006)
Marketing authorisation holder LABORATOIRE AGUETTANT

Sources: the MHRA product information (products.mhra.gov.uk) and the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), release 10.1.0 of 12 October 2026, NHS Business Services Authority. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.